Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-15

wv! AzX;~ ~r
Mnzm 9.N4ElS@s5=SAS
ONCE MORE HE LOOKED OVER LYDIA's NOTE.
was done by persons knowing well the
haunts and habits of the Princess. And,
yet, none of the people about here would
or, for that matter, could have been clever
enough-to have done it. Therefore, they
were strangers and yet men who had
studied the customs of the Princess. So
they must have been seen, at some time,
or other. There's clue number two!''
Louvait was known to the world at large
as middle-aged, portly and grave, but act
i've. Little did people imagine that this ex-
traordinary man, undisguised, was deter
mined young fellow of thirty-a mere beard
less youth.
ITO succeed as detective" ran one Of
Louvait's maxim's, lone must remain I'M
known"
Accordingly, the real Louvait was not
known.
Off he darted on s'L'Oiseau," the fleetest
horse in st. Malo. His plans were all con-
eocted ere he arrived at the chateau.
Thirty minutes afterwards, Leroi, the in
evitable, appeared. But in that time his
rival had already succeeded in inspiring the
in his ability which he invariably aroused.
The management of the case had been en-
trusted entirely to him. M
Leroi perceived that fate was once more
against him, but with his usual bulldog per-
tinacity, instead of giving up the game and
returning home, got into conversation with
the inmates of the chateau and soon learned
the state of affairs. He resolved to institute
a search for the culprits on his own account.
Louvait, having achieved this victory over
his rival, returned to Baudray's inn, where
he was told that no strangers had been en-
tertained as guests for two or three weeks;
and that, furthermore, no strangers had
been seen in that neighborhood for as long
time. The only guests who had lately left
the inn were the American, Fairfax, and the
Englishman, Oxford.
By this time, daylight was approaching
and Mireille arrived with the news that no
strange boat had been in the harbor.
All the vessels which came in before the
storm were yet there. However, some of
the sailors thought they had caught fleet
ing glimpse Of huge boat, passing out to
ward the island in the harbor. And one old
ssuperannuated fisherman swore that, while
he was inspecting his nets, after the storm,
he the brilliant lights of a steamer moving
out toward the channel.
Louvait felt that the hour for immediate
action was gone, and that this was case
requiring time, tact and patience. His de-
light increased as its magnitude and COM
plexity increased. Clearly no conspirators
of small caliber were concerned in it. This
was a deeply-planned, finely-executed plot.
Men with means and authority were it's
originators and executors, and were, there
fore, none of the people in the region there
abouts The glory to be gained was greater,
as the intricacy of the affair was greater.
Louvait's spirits rose to the occasion. His
enthusiasm became boundless as his am
bition.
''Not only have I secured the sole man,
agement of the case-a thing 1 didn't ex.
pect at the outset-but 1 have beaten
Leroi,'' exclaimed he, joyously
So the two worthless, in the most compla-
cent and self-satisfied humor, retired for a
brief rest.
The result of Louvait's careful and unre-
hitting exertions, next day, were as fol-
lows:
A carriage had been returned to a livery
stable in Dol, about four o'clock on the very
morning following the abduction.
''It is a full seven hours drive from the
sea-coast to Dol. Surprising it came direct
from Chateau Neuf, it must have left there
about nine o'clock last evening-just about
the hour when the fishermen think they
says it was hired late during the prey;oas
night. Bywhoml think by the conspira-
tors-another cluer'
I. Thus he reasoned r. &ag
After further inquiries he discovered
that five suspicious-lo looking characters left
the cars at Dol, on the very night when the
vehicle was procured at the livery stable
two alighting from the st. Malo express to
Paris, and three from the express arriving
from Paris.
That they had hired the chaise, Louvait
fully believed. And that this was the chaise
used in the abduction he clearly proved by
comparing the distance between its wheels
with that between the tracks cut in the
earth about the old fsh-house. 1t was an
old-fashioned vehicle, with a tremendous
breadth of axle. So it was quite unlikely
that any other conveyance should have made
those broad ruts.
The result of the detectives subsequent
investigations was such as to fasten his
suspicious upon Fairfax, Oxford and Roger.
But, then, to Offset the suspicion that the
Englishman and his servant were the inter-
esting pair that mysteriously left the st.
Malo express at Dol, the station-master at
St Malo showed a card, bearing the sigma
ture arthur Fairfax requesting him ''to
reserve compartment for two on $50 p. m.
express to. PariS-to be called for by Mr..
Richard Oxford and valet,
Mr.. Oxford and valet had not only called
for this compartment but occupied it in per-
son, during the entire trip to Paris-so the
guard said.
tDid the gentleman in such compart-
ment travel to Paris or get off at Dola''
HE and his valet went direct to Paris"
describe their personal appearance"
s'Their hats were drawn down over their
faces, but I think one of them wore light
mustache He was at least six feet in
height. The valet wore only short-cropped
side-whiskers. He was about Eve feet
seven inches tall"
This correctly described Dick and his
valet Yet Louvait was not satisfied.
fro BE Continued
A PREFKRRED creditor is one who never
asks for his money-Piea1Ens.